Orange County Focus

EL TORO : Chamber Chief Aims for Local Emphasis

The newly elected president of the Lake Forest/El Toro Chamber of Commerce says his goal for the new organization is to "focus very, very strongly" on local business development.

The local emphasis is "something that has possibly been missing" in the past, said Nick DiGiuro, an insurance agent who was elected president at Wednesday's meeting.

Also elected Wednesday were insurance agent Ken Smith as vice president, attorney Peter Holbrook as secretary, and accountant Lisa Johnston as treasurer.

About 20 representatives of the business community in El Toro banded together this summer to form the chamber and develop it along with the new city, which will be incorporated Dec. 20. Since then, the chamber committee has opened an office, named Betty Hie as interim executive director, and set up bylaws, membership, and finance committees.

In addition, officials are considering establishing a sliding scale for dues, going from $125 for employers of up to 10 people to $500 for those with 50 or more employees.

For more information, call the chamber office at (714) 581-4545. The office is at 22706 Aspan St., Suite 703, in El Toro.